Can-opener.



CAN OPENER.

APPLICATION man APR. 26, 1915.4 L. Patented Dec. 28, 1915.

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CHARLES FOTTLER. OF DORCHSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN-OPENER.

Application filed April 26, 1915.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES For'rLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Gpeners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a can opener.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of this character by means of which a can top may be easily pierced and cut from the can.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the opening knife that it may be reversed and both ends used.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the device that the can will be cut near the edge so that the entire contents may be easily removed.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device which will be easy to construct, cheap to manufacture and readily operated.

With these and other obj ects in view, such as will appear as the description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1 is an elevational view of my device looking at one side thereof. Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side. Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking at the rear edge of the device. Fig. 4 is a similar view looking at the opposite edge with the handle in section. Fig. 5 is a top plan view. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing the manner of mounting the knife and spacing plates. Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail showing the manner of pivoting the operating handle to the standard. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the knife and spacing blocks.

Referring to the drawing wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views: In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, I have provided a base 1 which has an outwardly extending flange 2 thereon which is adapted to engage beneath the edge of a table top or the like. This base-may Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Bec. 28, 1915..

serial No. 24,125.

be secured upon the table top by a set screw 8 which is adjustably mounted in the flange :2. Extending` upwardly from the base 1 is a standard which is secured to the upturned end of the base l by an angular brace Ll. This standard is of angular formation and consists of a portion 5, a portion 6 extending at right angles to the portion 5 and a flange 7 extending parallel to the portion 5. The portion G is provided with a vertically extending slot V8 which extends from a point adjacentthe top of the standard to a point adjacent the bottom thereof.

Slidably mounted on the inner and outer faces of the portion 5 are plates 9 and l() which are detachably secured together by screws 11 passing therethrough. These screws extend slightly beyond the face of the outer plate 10. Detachably secured to the ends of these screws and in contact with the outer face of the plate 10 is a cutting blade 11', the lower end of which extends beyond the lower end of the plate 10 and the upper end of which terminates short of the upper end of the plate. The inner face of this blade is flat and lies flat against the face of the plate 10. The ends of the blade are cut diagonally` and beveled to form cutting edges. Thus the position of the blade may be reversed when the cutting edge of the lower end has become dull and the remaining cutting edge used. The plates 9 and 10 and the blade 11 are provided with registering slots through which an operating handle 12 extends. The width of this handle is slightly less than the length of the slots so that it will have free movement therein. This handle is provided with a lug 13 which is adapted to extend into any one of a series of apertures 14E in the edge of the portion 5 of the standard so as to pivotally support the handle.

The end of the handle projects slightly beyond the edge of the standard adjacent the said apertures and is provided with a latch member l5 which is pivoted thereto and which is adapted to be swung into engage ment with the face of the portion 5 of the standard opposite to that on which the handle 12 is located. Thus when the handleis raised the cutting blade 1l will be raised and when the handle is lowered the cutting blade will likewise be lowered. 'Ihe portion of the handle which extends through the slots in the plates 9 and 10 and the cutting blade 1,1 s-curved, as indicated in the drawing, so that it will bind against the upper edges of the slots in the plates and cutting blade and limit the upward movement of the cutting blade, the downward movement being limited in the same manner.

In operation the handle is adjusted to the proper position according to the height of the can to be opened by inserting the lug 13 thereon in the proper one of the apertures 14. The latch member 15 is then swung into 'position and prevents the accidental displacement of the lug 13 from the aperture 14 in which it is engaged. The can is then placed upon the base 1 and the handle lifted. The handle is then pushed downwardly and the point at the lower end of the blade forced into the head of the can so as to par-- tially cut the same. The handle is then lifted so that the blade will disengage the can and the can partially rotated until a new portion of the head of the can is beneath the blade. This operation is continued until the entire head has been cut from the can. If the can is square, however, it may be moved directly across the blade and the blade operated in the same manner. By beveling the cutting edge of the blade the action of the can thereon during its movement will tend to force the blade toward the standard and thus there will be no tendency to spring the blade away from the standard and render it useless.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a can opening device of such construction that the head may be readily cut from a can whether the can be circular or rectangular.

l have provided a sliding` cutting blade which is adapted to be forced to penetrate the head of the can and is effectively braced so that it will not be sprung during the cutting of the can. Further l have mounted the blade in such manner that it may be adjusted to different heights according to the height of the can to be opened. I have so constructed the device that it may be readily adjusted to a table.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention, I have merely done so for the sake of convenience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes may be made within the details of construction thereof without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

llhat l claim is 1. ln a can opener, the combination with a base, of a standard mounted thereon, one portion of the standard having a vertically extending slot therein, a plate slidably mounted on each side of said portion, screws passing through the said plates and through the said slot, a. cutting blade detachably mounted on the outermost of said plates, a handle pivotally mounted on the said standard and extending through the said plates and cutting blade.

2. In a can opener, the combination with a base, of a. standard mounted thereon, a plate slidably mounted on one portion of said standard, a cutting blade detachably secured to said plate and having its cutting edge spaced from the said portion of the standard and means for causing the vertical movement of the said cutting blade and plate.

3. ln a can opener, the combination with a base, of a standard mounted thereon having a plurality of apertures therein, a curved handle having a lug arranged to engage any one of said apertures, a latch on the said handle arranged to engage the said standard to maintain the lug in the apertures and a cutting blade slidably mounted on the said standard and loosely engaged with the curved portion of the handle.

In testimony whereof, l aiiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FOTTLER. Witnesses:

MARION Gr. Fo'rTLEu, ISABEL L. FAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. I 

